Here’s where to find catfish on a lake with a scenic view: It’s just outside Fort Worth

Bud Kennedy
·2 min read

Every Texas lake needs a catfish cafe.

We don’t have many. But we do have the Tavern on the Lake in Parker County.

Oddly, nearby Eagle Mountain Lake has burger, barbecue and Tex-Mex restaurants. But it only has one bar-and-grill serving catfish.

So smaller Lake Weatherford deserves attention for a little, tucked-away neighborhood bar with food and a lakefront view worth the short drive.

Tavern on the Lake is actually closer to most of Fort Worth than Eagle Mountain Lake. It’s at 210 W. Lake Drive, 2 miles north of Hudson Oaks off Interstate 20.

A catfish basket with french fries and onion rings at Tavern on the Lake May 19, 2024.
A catfish basket with french fries and onion rings at Tavern on the Lake May 19, 2024.

The restaurant is on the south side of the lake, so the patio faces north and is shaded much of the day. It looks out on a quiet lake with a few small boats and personal watercraft.

Tavern on the Lake replaced another neighborhood pub four years ago and struggled at first through the pandemic.

But it has built a reputation for its “stuffed” burgers and funnel-cake stick “fries.”

The catfish might be more notable. It comes with a peppery batter that gives the fillets a crunch.

Tavern on the Lake is tucked away on Lake Weatherford north of Hudson Oaks, as seen May 19, 2024.
Tavern on the Lake is tucked away on Lake Weatherford north of Hudson Oaks, as seen May 19, 2024.

There’s also a catfish “not-so-po’boy” sandwich with remoulade. Either is less than $15, with a generous side helping of genuine hush puppies plus fries, onion rings or both.

The rest of the Tavern on the Lake menu is a notch above most lakefront grills. There’s a grilled chicken sandwich with grilled pineapple, provolone and mango-habanero-ranch, or one with garlic-Parmesan sauce and pepperoncinis.

The chicken-fried steak comes with bacon-Creole gravy, green beans and mashed potatoes. WIngs or chicken tenders come with a choice of eight sauces.

The view from Tavern on the Lake is a quiet scene with small boats and personal watercraft.
The view from Tavern on the Lake is a quiet scene with small boats and personal watercraft.

The half-pound burger seems like the most common order. The basic burger comes with a choice of seven cheeses, or the varieties include ground beer patties stuffed with either blue cheese-and-bacon inside or jalapenos-and-bacon.

The Tavern on the Lake dessert special last week was banana-pudding cake, but it was sold out. But the restaurant is known for the funnel-cake sticks the size of french fries, with caramel and chocolate dipping sauces.

It’s open for lunch Thursdays through Sundays and for dinner nightly except Mondays; 817-550-6408.